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Key Takeaways
- As the price of college climbs and the higher education landscape shifts, the number of students from the U.S. who are applying to certain international universities is increasing.
- Tuition at international universities is often significantly cheaper than at U.S. institutions.
- Students may be drawn to unique educational opportunities, cultural exchange and other benefits.
- However, students considering this path should be aware of the hidden costs, such as the challenges of navigating a new educational system in a foreign country.
The Trend: Students Going Global for College
As the higher education landscape in the U.S. shifts, a growing number of prospective college students are applying to pursue their degrees abroad. The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service found that, as of the application deadline in June 2025, the number of U.S. students who applied for undergraduate studies in the U.K. rose by 14% versus a year earlier. Below, we explore factors affecting this change, including tuition costs and education access, plus potential downsides.
Factors Driving U.S. Students to Apply Abroad
Tuition
Many U.S. students cite rising tuition costs as a key factor for considering international options for college study. According to a recent report by the Education Data Initiative, the average annual cost—including tuition and fees, room and board, and supplies, but not other living expenses—of attending a public four-year college in-state is $27,146. This figure jumps to $45,708 for out-of-state public colleges and to $56,628 for four-year private institutions.
College abroad is generally much less expensive. In the U.K., students pay an average of $13,135 per year of tuition, the Education Data Initiative said in a separate report early this year. In Japan, the annual cost averages $5,645. While these figures do not include room and board, living expenses, and so on, the potential to save money by studying abroad is clear. In fact, in some cases tuition may even be free for international students.
Education Access
Beyond the financial benefits, a growing number of U.S. students are also discovering the advantages of gaining exposure to new cultures, global networking opportunities and international job prospects. Many colleges offer English-taught programs at moderate prices, allowing students from the U.S. to immerse themselves in a new environment even if they are not fluent in the local language.
Important
Though the U.S. continues to dominate global rankings of institutions of higher education, it’s also possible for students to gain access to world-class colleges at a reasonable cost. The U.S. News & World Report’s global university rankings feature three U.K. schools in the top 10, for example.
The Hidden Costs and Challenges of College Abroad
While tuition costs are typically lower at international colleges, there are potential hidden costs that students may not anticipate. For example, travel expenses may be significant, particularly if a student needs to return home frequently throughout a four-year education. Visas will also add further expense and require navigating an additional layer of bureaucracy. Currency fluctuations can make the exact cost of international expenses in U.S. dollars unpredictable.
One of the biggest financial considerations for students looking to study abroad is access to U.S. federal financial aid. Not all colleges outside of the U.S. participate in the Direct Loan Program, and U.S. students studying at these schools tend to be on their own to figure out how to gain access to financial aid.
Non-financial challenges may exist as well. There are differences in academic systems, degree timelines, and requirements depending upon the school and the country. Students will also face being in a new place and adapting to a culture that may be unfamiliar while being far away from home.
What Students Should Consider
As with the decision to attend any college in the U.S., students should consider what they hope to get out of an international education experience and how likely a given school is to be able to meet those goals. It’s especially important to consider accreditation and degree recognition back in the U.S. for those students anticipating pursuing advanced degrees or careers dependent upon specific undergraduate degrees.
Further, students should think about the potential return on investment (ROI) of their international education. Will the school provide an attractive balance of cost, experience, personal and educational growth, and career access?
Students taking on a college degree internationally face some hurdles that those looking domestically do not, and there are fewer structures in place to help them navigate these concerns. Taking advantage of international admissions offices, exchange programs, scholarships, and alumni networks in the international community may be especially helpful.
